Caring for Your Oral Health

Did you know that your oral health plays an important role in your overall health and wellbeing? Taking good care of your teeth and gums can help keep your whole body in a healthy state and reduce your risk of many serious health problems that can start in the mouth.

If you have an oral health problem such as gum disease and you don’t keep up with your regular dental check-ups, the problem could get significantly worse and even result in issues like tooth loss. Because your oral health is connected to your overall health, unaddressed dental disease are also linked to a heightened risk of complications like heart disease and oral cancer.

Going to the dentist twice a year is an important part of preventative dental care. We’ll carefully examine your teeth and gums, scale and polish your teeth and recommend any treatments you may need. We’ll also give you and your family advice on how to care for your oral health at home.

When you visit us for your hygiene appointment at North Queensland Family Dental, our hygienists will perform a careful inspection of your mouth, teeth and gums.

We’ll look for any signs of tooth decay or cavities, loose or broken teeth, damaged crowns or fillings, gum disease or other oral health problems. If we do spot a problem, we’ll talk to you about what’s going on and all treatment options that could help you.

Your continuing care visit consists of:

• a full oral health assessment
• an oral cancer examination
• scaling and polishing your teeth to remove plaque
• a remineralisation treatment (i.e. fluoride) to help strengthen your teeth enamel
• advice on oral hygiene products and techniques, such as flossing and brushing
• an individualised oral homecare program developed specifically for your needs.

If you have specific dental or orthodontic requirements, our hygiene department can help you with specialised programs.

Please enquire about our:

• Bad breath program
• Dry mouth program
• Orthodontic care program
• Soft tissue management program.

Gums and bone are the foundations of a healthy smile. It’s the goal of our hygienists to make sure these foundations are as healthy and strong as possible by helping you maintain a high standard of oral health.

Many dental diseases are preventable. Routine check-ups and cleans at our clinic, combined with the knowledge we’ll teach you about caring for your teeth and gums at home, can help you to maintain fresh breath and a healthy smile.

Our qualified hygienists in Townsville work alongside our dentists to help patients achieve the best outcomes. We have two full-time hygienists at North Queensland Family Dental:

Carla Lejarraga

After completing her Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health) at the University of Queensland in 2000, Carla moved to Townsville. Since that time, she has travelled the world to develop her skills.

In 2007, Carla undertook training in the United States with the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies in the area of dental hygiene. She also received training in the USA with the Buteyko Clinic of Ireland. As a qualified breathing educator, Carla can help patients to achieve proper breathing techniques that assist with lip sealment and overall health benefits.

In 2010, Carla undertook further study to become an orofacial myologist, an expert in the dysfunctions of the muscles of the mouth and face. She works closely with dentists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists to achieve proper functions of the face and oral structures aiding in speech, oral habits and normal dental and facial development. She has also studied advanced periodontics instrumentation and is thoroughly competent in local anaesthetics and teeth whitening.

Carla is passionate about proper facial and dental development and launched the Smiley Face Clinic at Townsville Dental Care in 2013, the first clinic of its type in the area. This clinic is dedicated to helping parents and children achieve normal facial growth and development through education and correcting bad oral habits.

Sharing a love for the arts and her local community, Carla enjoys performing on stage as a member of local theatre company, TheatreInq. She’s also a caring wife and mother who brings this same caring and supportive nature to her patients.

Oral hygiene doesn’t end at the dental clinic. We’ll recommend specific advice for your circumstances and challenges, but we’ll also reiterate the importance of basic steps, such as:

Brush your teeth at least twice a day

Brushing should take at least two minutes. You should use a fluoride toothpaste, preferably one with the added ingredient Triclosan which has antibacterial properties. If you’re having trouble reaching all parts of your mouth, an electric toothbrush could make the job easier.

Floss every day

Floss removes trapped food and bacteria that can’t always be removed by brushing. If you find flossing difficult, we’ll recommend a floss threader or holder.

Avoid sugary and acidic food and drink

Food and drink that’s high in sugar and acid content is a leading cause of tooth decay. If you do eat sugary snacks or consume soft drinks or fruit juices, rinse your mouth with water afterward and chew sugarless gum, as this increases saliva flow which helps to clean your mouth.

Drink plenty of water

Staying hydrated will help to keep your saliva levels high. Alcohol and caffeine are diuretics, which dehydrate your body and reduce your saliva’s protective functions.

Stop smoking

Smoking increases your risk of gum disease, dry mouth and other oral health problems. It can also cause bad breath.

Wear a mouthguard when playing contact sports

We can provide a custom-fitted mouthguard for you or your child to help protect your teeth during sports and other activities.

Visit your dentist and hygienist (roughly) every 6 months

Routine dental visits are important for spotting issues and lowering your risk of developing any problems. The frequency of these visits sometimes depend on your health and any relevant risk factors, but we tend to recommend visiting us every six months. We’ll remind you when your next continuing care appointment is coming up!